Question

How was life difficult for the colonists? Was it easier for some, more than others? What accounts for the many differences?

Answer 1

During the 1600s and 1700s, hundreds of thousands of Africans were forced to work as slaves in the colonies. Most New England families lived in small houses with one main room. They cooked on the fireplace and slept on mattresses near the fire. Colonial homes were like busy workshops.

The colonists developed an economy based on farming, commerce(buying and selling goods), and handcrafts. Nine out of ten people lived on small family farms.The first and hardest task facing farm families was to clear the land of trees. Your home is a single large room with a chimney at one end. The fireplace is the only source of heat for warmth and cooking .Life on your farm starts before sunrise. Everyone wakes up early to share the work.

  In 1750, one colonist out of 20 lived in a city. Compared to the quiet farm life, cities were exciting places.The heart of the city was the waterfront .Just beyond the docks,a marketplace bustled with fishermen selling their catch and farmers selling fresh eggs,milk,and cheese.The nearby streets were lined with shops.Cities were noisy, smelly places. City homes were close together on winding streets.For lighting, colonists used torches made of pine that burned brightly.With torches and candles lighting homes, fire was a constant danger.

Colonists in America saw themselves as English citizens.They expected the same rights that citizens enjoyed in England. The most important of these was the right to have a voice in their government..

Like many people today, those living in colonial times were eager to“move up in the world.” In England, “moving up” was difficult. A person’s class, or place in society, was determined largely by family, inherited titles (such as “duke” or “baron”), and wealth.In colonial America, however, titles and family background meant little.Most colonists started out poor In the colonies, people’s clothes showed their social position. Only the gentry, or wealthy class, wore gold or silver, colored lace, buttons,boots, and wigs.The middle class was made up of farmers and artisans (skilled craftspeople). The lower class was mostly made up of farmhands and other workers.Members of this class depended on others for their wages. At the bottom of colonial society were indentured servants and slaves.